Signaling device.



I w. MARTIN.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-14,19]?- Patentd May 28,1918;

2 SHEETSSHEET l.-

123- Wf/z L. W. MARTIN.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14. 19:7.

Patented Mdy 28,1918,

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LOUIS WILLIAM MARTIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May as, was.

Application filed March 14, 1917. Serial No. 154,675.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis WILLIAM MAR- TIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, whereby any one skilled in the art may-make and use the same.

The invention relates to signaling devices, and is directed particularly to a signaling apparatus which may be worn by the user and through which said user may give signals without impairing the use of the hands or other members of the body in any manner whatsoever.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact device which may be worn on the hand, arm, or other portion of the body of the user, and through which occular signals may be given by flashing lights.

A further object is to provide a device which may be applied and strapped securely in place, as for instance upon the hand without impairing the use of the hand, for any ordinary purpose.

Referring tothe drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates the device as applied to the left hand.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the casing with the cover thrown open.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the supporting strap or mitten withthe attached signaling device and appurtenant parts.

Fig. 1 illustrates the application of a form of the device to the arm of the user.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of one of the nipples and appurtenant partssurrounding the lamp.

Fig. 6 indicates in diagram the wiring connections.

The invention, hereinafter described, is designed particularly for the purpose of providing a moving signal.v It is particularly useful to automobilists, trainmen, and others who are compelled to signal from one point to another. It is particularly advantageous when applied 'as a signal for automobilists.

Many signaling devices have been utilized on automobiles, but the commonest method of signaling to a machine in the rear is by the waving of the hand from a side of the car. This form of signal has become almost a universal practice. ile it serves its purposes during daylight, it is, of course inefiective at night.

The signaling devlce, herein disclosed, is applicable either to the left or right hand of the driver and is interchangeable from one hand to the other. It follows that a chaufi'eur operating a car with a left-hand drive applies the signaling mitt to the left hand. When using a car with a right-hand drive, it may be applied to the right hand.

Similarly, it may be used on the right or left hand 7 of a brakeman, conductor, or wherever such a signal is desired.

In addition to providing a signaling device, it may be utilized for illuminating purposes. Itis readily attachable tothe arm of a postman, in such form that he may use both hands freely and thereby sort and inspect his mail with greatest facility.

In theaccompan'ying drawings, the numeral 1, denotes a support which, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, is in the form of a mitt which encircles the hand and wrist,.

The extension 8, projects beyond the buckle 10, and the end 7 overlaps the extension 8. Upon the extension 7, there is a switch or switches 11, 12, through which an electrlc circuit may be controlled to operate the'signal lights. I p

Upon the support or mitt 1, there 1s a casing 18, which consists of a base-part 14:, and a hinged cover member 15. Extending through and removably arranged in the cover 15, is an electric lamp or lamps-16,17, the respective bases of which 18, 19, pro ect through the cover and have their central terminals 20, 21, brought into engagement with corresponding spring-contact fingers22, 23, when the cover is closed upon the base.

i The contact fingers 22, 23, are mounted upon an insulating block 24, so that they are insulated from the casing, in the event of a metallic casing being employed. I

Within the base-piece 14, which as 1lli1strated is of rectangular form, is arranged the source of electrical supply. As illustrated in Fig. 2, this consists of batteries 25, 26, having one of their terminals connected with the casing through spring contacts 27, and their opposite poles interconnected by a removable contact bar 28.

The contact bar 28, through a flexible conductor 29, forms one side of the circuit leading to the switch devices 11, 12. Flexible conductors 30, 31, connect the spring contact members 22, 23, with the respective switch devices.

In Figs. 1 to 3, two lamps are illustrated with corresponding switches 11, 12. These switches may be of any desired form and preferably are provided with distinctive buttons 32, 33, which, when the device is strapped to the hand, are in convenient position to be actuated by one of the fingers.

The purpose of having two lamps is to provide for a white flash or a red flash. Of course, the color of the illuminating devices may be changed to suit the exigencies of any particular case.

For convenience, the lamps are screwed through nipples 16 which nipples are exteriorly screw-threa ed to receive collars 17. These collars serve to hold in place colored lenses. It is obvious that. with-various colors of lenses any desired combination may be secured, and the lenses may be interchanged at will.

A convenient form of arran ement is illustrated in detail in Fig. 5. 'I he nipple 16*, has inserted within it a reflector-cup 34, having a screw-threaded extension 35, at its bottom to receive the base of the lamp, and with an outwardly turned edge 36, which rests upon the upper edge of the nipple 16*. The lens 37, serves as a cover for.

the cup 34, and rests upon its upper outturned edge. The collar 17*, has an inturned edge 38, which bears upon the lens .and clamps it in place as the collar isscrewed down upon the nipple 16.

The cover 15, of the casing is preferably raised atits center. This provides ample storage space within the casing for carrying extra lenses, as illustrated in dotted lines at a, of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings, the device is illustrated as strapped to the arm of the user, for instance, a postman. The same casing is employed, as illustrated at 39, and is held in place by a strap 40, althou h this casing shows a single illuminating e ement 41. The control of the lamp 41, is effected through a flexible connection 42, terminating in a switch device arranged upon a hand strap 43, corresponding to the hand strap encircling the palm in the form of device heretofore described. The switch may be readily operated by one of the fingers, and the light thrown upon an article held in the hand, as'illustrated.

It is obvious that the exact details of the device might be modified to suit the exigencies of any particular case of use. The exact form and style of casing'is quite immaterial. The device, as a whole, is. self-contained and may be used for many purposes, and in fact wherever it is desired to give light signals.

The wiring diagram of Fig. 6 indicates the electrical source or battery at B, lamps L, L, and switch devices S, S. Of course, any desired form of wiring may be employed but there must be a switch device for eac lamp circuit.

What I claim as my'invention and desire .to secure by Letters Patent is:

is closed, electrical connections within the casing from the batteries to the lamp and conductors from the lamp and battery to a switch device for controlling said lamp, said switch device operable by the hand of the user for controlling the electrical connections of the battery and lamp.

2. In a signaling device in combination, a flexible base or support, a casing mounted thereon having a base and a removable cover, batteries arranged in said base, a lamp projecting through the cover, a spring contact cooperating with one terminal of'said lamp, a switch device mounted upon the flexible support and within reach of the fingers of the user, and electrical connections from the batteries and lamp to the switch device for controlling said lamp.

3. In a signaling device in combination, a flexible base or support in the form of a mitt, extensions at opposite sides of said flexible support, adjusting straps secured to said extensions for adjustin the mitt at the wrist and about the hand 0 the user, a cashand of the user, means for securing said,

extensions in place, a switch device upon one of said extensions encircling the hand, a casing mounted upon the body-part and resting upon the back of the hand, said casing having a removable mamas cover, batteries arranged in said casing, a lamp extending through the cover of said casing a spring contact for engaging one terminal of the lamp, electrical connections for said lamp and batteries, said connectionsterminating in the switch device.

5. In a signaling device in combination, a flexible base applicable to the hand of the user, a casing mounted upon said base and resting at the back of the hand with the base in place, a base-part for said casing, a hinged cover therefor, batteries mounted in the base, a plurality of lamps mounted in the cover, electrical contacts within the base for engaging the central contacts of the lamps with the cover closed, electrical connections from said contacts and the batte extending without the casing and switc devices, and a plurality of switch devices at controlling said circuits, there being a switch for each lamp circuit.

LOUIS WILLIAM MARTIN. Witnesses:

BESSIE ABBAMSON, EDITH REMOND. 

